Comics
Review: ‘Witch Doctor: Mal Practice’ #6
In its thrilling conclusion, Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #6 delivers an action-packed finale that must be read. This is an all-out confrontation between monsters, femme fatales, and a sarcastic witch doctor. The “Witch Doctor” series closes its second chapter with a satisfying ending filled with hilarious one-liners and nonstop action.
WRITTEN BY: Brandon Seifert
ART BY: Lukas Ketner
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: April 24th, 2013
Dr. Vincent Morrow has made a lot of enemies over the years, but these opponents have crossed the line and have taken something that he wants back. Dr. Morrow’s assistant, Penny, is being held hostage by his rivals. Inside The Medicine Show’s “Spell Lab,” Penny is tied in chains and cannot break free. Eric Gast is ready to crash through the door and start shooting. Even though he doesn’t understand what she is, Dr. Morrow will not stop fighting until he knows for sure that Penny is safe and sound.
Brandon Seifert gives each and every one of his characters something important to do. Nobody is wasted. First, Seifert throws Dr. Morrow into a car chase as the leader of the Medicine Show escapes. Next, Eric is bleeding from the neck and can barely keep his mind focused. He has to deal with a knife-wielding maniac, who has the upper-hand. Finally, Penny is foolishly let loose from her chains. Even if Morrow and Gast are able to stop the rest of the Medicine Show, they will have to find a way to control their unstoppable killing machine.
I love how Seifert ends the “Mal Practice” miniseries with an outrageously over-the-top moment. I didn’t think Seifert was going to top the twisted baby-shaking scene in “Volume 1: Under The Knife,” but he really comes close. With the final few pages, I was asking myself, “Should I be laughing at this?”
Artist Lukas Ketner is game for anything and goes all-out with his illustrations. Ketner captures the eeriness of a floating octopus with a woman’s head on it. Making great use of panel layouts, Ketner illustrates a bloody brawl between Dr. Morrow and the leader of the Medicine Show. Dr. Morrow looks like an action hero as he runs across and swings his glowing red sword at his enemy.
Ketner really knows how to emphasize the grossness when the scene calls for it. To show how tough she is, Penny rips out her own arm in front of her kidnapper. Without saying so, Penny is proving that she needs only one arm to deal with her captor. This is one of those key “Ewww!” moments that I hope we see more of with “Wich Doctor”.
“Witch Doctor: Mal Practice” #6 ties up loose threads, while leaving things open-ended for the next story arc. The “Witch Doctor” series remains an entertaining read, which is why I look forward to what Seifert and Ketner will come up with for the next story arc.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Jorge Solis
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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